Engine starting mechanism



Feb. 12, 1935. R. M. NARDONE ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 5, 1929 Il vllllllllllllllllll nventor Maf u tfotneg Peb. 12, 1935.

R. M. NARDCNE 1,991,112

VENGINE STARTING MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 24 I 26 43 LY lo JW V l Il l, Bnventor Patented Feb. 12, 1935 This invention `relates `to an engine starting mechanism and more particularly to combined starting and l ignition apparatus `for internal combustion engines. l l.

' lnstarting internal combustion engines of the type employing magneto ignition and a distributor thereforgthere has `heretofore been proposed for such engines, starting apparatus having a booster magneto operatively` associatedv therewith which is adapted toV furnish ignition energy tothe engine during .the starting opera- 'tions Suchfbooster magnetos are usually of the small high speed type drivably connectedto the starting apparatus lthrough speed multiplying means, and for the most part arel electrically yconnected. to `the spark plugs of the engine through a rotatable distributor arm,` this arm usually trailing a few degrees behind-the distributor larrn connected to the main magneto.

With the.. booster magneto thusv electrically connected to a distributor arm which is rotatable in` xed relation to arotatable portion of the engine, the proper timingirelationbetween the booster magneto and the engine will alwaysbe maintained.

In some internal combustion engines, however, as for example marine engines of the two-cycle outboard type having one or more cylinders and wherein `distributors ofrthe usual type arenot utilized, it maybe highly desirable to` employ therefor starting apparatus includingabooster magneto' forfacilitating starting thereof.

It fis accordingly one of the objects of the 'present invention to provide novel combined starting and ignition apparatus which is particu-` larly adaptedfor use vwith internal combustion engines which are not provided with the usual `distributors for the' ignition current.

l Anotherobject of `the invention is -toprovide in `combination with combined starting and ignition `apparatus novel means for" insuringproper timing relation between the ignition device and engine during starting of the latter.

wA'further object is to provide in a starting mechanism for internal combustionA engines, a booster magnetor which is lelectrically connected to the engine only during the starting operation.

vAnotherobject is to provide in a starting apparatus having abooster magneto loperatively associated therewith, novel means for simultaneously electrically connecting'the magneto, and mechanicallyconnecting the starter, to the engine A i A binedwstarting and. ignition; apparatus; a novel Nardo@ 'East omge'ml; assign@ j t Eclipse Aviation Corporation, lilast-'Oiranggg` N- J, a. corporation of New Jersey' l 'position only; Another. object is` accompanying drawings. understood however; that the' drawings `are for appended claims.

' rstarter jaw' and vengine l employed{inf-accordance with thi f `still Afurther object is to provide 'in a com- PATEN .jaw clutch member i movable into 'crankingr engagementwith an enginemember, saidniembers being so constructed asvto beengageable in one abcveeharacter which is so constructed ,that the electrical `circuit toA the booster magneto" will be broken attlie same instant that the mainmagneto becomes operative to"l supply the.v ignition current whereby damage to` the booster magneto Yis prevented.

The above and other'objectsvwll appearmr fully hereinafter in the following detailedrdescription when taken in "connectionwwithlfth'e purposes of l illustration only f and" arenotutome taken :as vaV definition of4 'the limits` of the' 'invention, reference being had fior-this purpose tolth'e In` the ,drawings A 4 acters f referl tofsimilar p'arts' throughout 'the several views: H I 1" H Fig. 1 is a` verticalsecticriiiiustrating one embodimentlof the present inventiom l f Fig. eis a horizontal section' takenfion'tne r; regularA line 3-3 of Figlli` j i i l? Fig; 4 'is a'perspective'"view` or oiiellfrmiof 'member that may be aventi n,

tated 180. f Y

vto* provide 'apparatusiof' the wherein like referencefichar` Fig: 5 is a View simiiartbfr'ig, wartime l Referring'more' particularly tdFigsS lfand 3 the*` starting apparatus comprisesjafhousing constituted by f a` vvertical cylindrical'fportion having la circular lange formedfintegifally tion of the enginei tob'e `starl e example' flywheel 12. y 1 Y Means are provided for manually rotating the starter member '710, although it to ybe feilipriessf' ly f understood that power means 'may f bef'ern ployed for this purpose if desired. In the form shown such means includes a longitudinally extending cranking shaft 13 provided with the usual cranking pin 13a. and rotatably mounted in housing portion 7 as by means of ball bearings 14 and 15. Adjacent the central portion, the shaft carries a worm 16 which is adapted to mesh with a worm wheel 17. A shaft 18, rotatably mounted in housing portion 5 as by means of ball bearings 19 and 20 carries the worm wheel 17 which is drivably secured to said shaft as by means of a key 21.l A nutV 22 threaded on the upper end of the shaft maintains the worm wheel and ball bearings in proper operating relation with respect to the shaft.

'I'he jaw clutch member 10 Vis provided with an internally splined cup portion 23 which receives the lower splined end portion of the shaft 18. This splined connection betweenl the, shaft and jaw clutch permits of relative movement of:V the' latter with respect to the former in order-'that the members 10 and 11 may be engaged for starting purposes.

In order that the last mentioned engagement `may be attained in asimple and efcientman- "ner, there is' provided a novel means which is preferably automatic in operation. In the form `of the invention illustrated, see Figs. 1 and 4, such means isconstituted by a split band 24 -frictionally engaged with the outer surface of the cupped portion 23 of the starter jaw 10 and which is formed in such a manner that' the `ends of the band are spaced apart so as to form fa diagonally -extending slot 25. Thisv .slot is adapted to receive theend of a screw 26, threaded into the sidey wall o f casing 5, the cooperation therebetween causing a combined rotary and outward movement of the starter jaw when the shaft- 23 is rotated.

A booster magneto 27 is rigidly secured `:in any Vsuitable manner to the casing portion 7, and means are provided for driving the magneto armature from the shaft 13 during the starting operation. To this end, the inner extremity of the shaft yis provided with a bevel gear 28, Fig.; 3, which meshes with a bevel gear 29 fixedly attached to the armature vshaft .of the magneto in any convenient manner. It is pointed out that the gear train 28--29 is a' speed multivplyi-ng driving connection, thus insuring a high rs peedcf rotation ofthe magneto with respect tothe-starter member-10 and a consequent increased number of sparks per engine revolution, in; Order to facilitate starting of the engine. .It will be` understood that various `types of speed multiplying mechanism other than that illustratecl may' be lemployed in the driving connection between the cranking shaft 13 and the magneto armature.; and may be housed within the magnetocas-ingvif desired.

Novel means are provided whereby the magneto` may/be electrically connected to the spark plug: or. plugs4 of the engine vthere is mounted an insulating,

to be started, such means preferably being automatically actuated duri-ng. the starting operation. In the form shown vsuch-means. include a rod 30 extending VCerati-ally through the shaft 18 and freely slidable therein, and ii-xedlyr secured at its lower end to the hub portion of starter member 10 by any suitable means such as nut 31. The upper end otlrod 311 is provided 4with a head 32 on which spool 33 which carries av segmental contactmember 34 adapted to cooperate with contacts 35Jand' 36 in order tof-complete. a @1 -righ tension ele trical; circuit between the booster magneto and the engine during the starting operation. The two last named contacts are fixedly mounted in copper terminal members 37 and 38 carried by the insulating piece 39 which forms a housing for the contact mechanism. A cover 40 is removably mounted as by means of wing nut 41 threaded on stud 42, toY permit inspection and adjustment of con- Vmore cables, oneof which is shown at l46.

Novel means are provided in order to insure proper timing relation between the ignition current generated by the booster magneto and the engine to be started. In the form shown, suchv means is constituted by the provision of rcooperating members 10 .and 1l, the construction thereof being such as to permit engagement therebetween in one position only. Referring to Fig. 4, the member `11 is provided with slots 47 and 48, thevertical facesr of which are positioned slightly off center. Starter member 10 is provided with. teeth 49 and 50 which are adapted to mesh with slots 47 and 48 respectively, said teeth being so constructed that the vertical faces thereof are also positioned off center. It is apparent from the position of the members l0 and 11 as indicated, in Fig. 4, that the former may be engaged with the latter for cranking purposes. However, if the starter member 10 is rotated to any other relative position, for example 180 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that indicated in Fig. 5, meshing of the members will be impossible since one or the other of teeth 49and 50 will contact with the face of member 11.

.It will thus be seen that whenever members l0 and l1 are engaged, the boosterV magnetois properly timed Vwith respect to the pistons of the engine to be started inasmuch as the contact 34 and the armature of the magneto are in constant driving relation with respect tolthe starter jaw.

In employing the `above vdescribed combined starting and ignition apparatus in connection with internal combustion engines of the twocycle, outboard type, the engine jaw clutch member l1 is fixed to the flywheel 12 in `any suitable p manner, and the starting unit is mounted on the stationary bracket 9 so that the starter jaw l0 will be in a proper position to engage and crank the member 11.

In operation, a hand crank having a slot for engaging pin 13a is fitted over the end of shaft 13, rotation thereof imparting a -rotary movement through worm land worm wheel 17 to shaft 18. The starter jaw: 10 because of the splined connectionthereof with the shaft .18, tends to rotate therewith. `The split ring 24 also tends to rotate with the starter jaw-because of the frictional contact `between said ring andthe cup shaped portion 23, 'but due to the engagement between the stationary screw 26 and slot 25 such rotation is transformed into a combined rotary and longitudinal movement,

thereby causing the starter jaw 10 to be moved into cranking engagement with the `engine member 11. As soon as such engagement is comlpletely effected the cooperation between screw 26 and slot25 will prevent further movement of the band 24 `which. willf'faccordingly' remain sta.`

tionarywhile the starterxjaw rotates therein.: w

Longitudinal movementof the starter member moves rod" 30 together with. spool 33 and contact segment 34` downwardly, bringing said'contact into close proximitywith respect to contacts l36an`d 37 in order to complete the electrical 4,is such that engagement therebetweenmay the starting operation;

beeffected in oneposition only, it being pointed out that .the cooperating teeth and slots `on the respective members are off center in order to accomplish this result. Thus when the two members are engaged, the booster :magneto is properlytimed with respect tothe pistons of i the engineto `be startedinasmuch as the contact 34 andthe armature of the, magneto are in coiistant-` driving relation with. respect `to the starter jaw. Y

'The spool` 33carrying contact `segment 34 is adjustable on head 32 by means `of the cooperatingscrew and slotconnectionsv 43 and 44 and is preferably so adjusted as to complete the ignii tion circuit between the booster magneto and the spark plug or-plugs of the engine to be started just" after a dead center positionof the pistons of the latter has been reached. After such electrical circuit has `been completed, due towthe construction of the segment 34, the booster magneto will continue to lbe electrically connectedto `the contact 35 as the starter jaw, rod 30 and spool 33y are rotated,and due to the speed multiplying connection between shaft 13 and the booster magneto thelatter will deliver a lpluralityof sparks tothe sparkplug or plugs during thetime the segment 34 bridges contacts 35'andv36'. P v. j: Due to the speedmultiplying gearing ernployed :between the cranking shaft ,13 and the armature shaft of the booster ;magneto, the latter` will berotated at a relatively high speed with respect to the 'starter member 10, thus insuring the delivery of a pluralityof sparks from the` boostermagneto to the engine` during When the engine starts the `inclination of the teethon the `starter jaw'is `such that the latter willgbe quickly moved out of engagement with respect to the engine member,I the extent of relativelongitudinal movement between these two members being such as to instantaneously and automatically increase the `air gap between segment f34 andocontacts 35 and 36 whereby the booster magneto ignition circuit `is interrupted.;y

The main` magneto associated with the engine is thenoperative to supply the necessary ignition current to the engine but since theybooster magneto circuit, is now open no damage can result to `the latter.

There is thus provided a combined starting `and ignition apparatus which is particularly adapted for use in connection with engines of the two-cycle, outboard type having one or more cylinders which lire simultaneously, and one which may be quickly and easily attached to such an engine with no change whatsoever in the ignition wiring, it being necessary only to` connect additional cables to the spark plugs of the several cylinders.

The construction of the starter and engine `therefore be. had to the appended claims' for a Amembers insures'proper timing between the engine and the booster magneto, and in addition thereto permits of f instantaneous disconnection ofthe booster magneto from the engine as soon Vas Vthe latterrstarts, the engine driven magneto matically establishes anw electrical connection i between `the booster magneto and the various spark plugs. Y f It is further pointed out that though the in# vention has been described as particularly adapted for use iin connection with `two-cycle engines,'the same may alsobe employed.; for

startingfour-cycle 'engines having. one'or more 1 cylinders, it being 1 necessary only to provide proper speed reduction means between'. the crankshaft and the engine member sothat one complete revolution` of the later will beequivaient to l one complete 'working cycle `of the engine. W 1. u i

While there `has been shown and 'described only one embodiment vof the invention, it i`sto be `expresslyunderstood that Vthe invention is not limited thereto, but may be embodied in various electro-mechanical forms. `For example, `the crankingshaft may be` power operated instead of manually operated, 'if desired. Gear multiplying means other than that'illustrated may be employed, as WellY 'asiother changes in the sizes,`

shapes and'relative `location of the various elements of the apparatus, aswell understood by those Iskilled in` the art, withoutl departing from the spirit ,of the invention. .Reference wiu denition ofthe limitsvthereof. i f

'What isclaimedis: f f i 1. In starting apparatus of the class described, a `rotatable membermovable into4 cranking engagement withl a `member drivably associated with the crankshaft of an engineto be started, f

said members being engageable in `one position onlyfmeans for'rotating said rotatable` member, a magneto drivablyconnected to said means, and means for simultaneously electrically connecting said magneto to the engine to be started and for moving said members into cranking engagement.

Y `2. Instarting apparatus of the class described, a driven member normally disengagedbut movable `to engage and crank a `member of an engineto be'- started, driving means` for said driven member, speed multiplying means drivably con# nected to said driving meansuamagneto operatively connected to` the driving portion only of said speedmultiplying means, and means including interengaging elements for effecting a driving engagement between said members only when said members are in a position to produce.

proper synchronization of said magneto with the angular position of saidengine member.

3. In starting apparatus of the class described, a rotatable member adapted to engage and crank a member `of an engine to be started, means for rotating said memben a magneto drivably connected to said member and adapted `togfurnish ignition current to the engine during starting., ,means for.; moving saidy members into cranking engagement; means for causing disengagement of said, members when the engine starts, `:and means movable by and with said engineengaging member to electrically disconnect said magneto from the engine.

4. In starting apparatus ofthe class described, a. driven member, a driving member therefor, a magneto drivably `connected to said last named member, means for moving said driven member into cranking engagement with a member of an engineto be started, and means for electricallyconnecting the magneto to the engine during cranking of .theV latter, said means including a` circuit making andbreaking device movable Withfsaid driven'member.

5; In combination `With an engine starting mechanism having a driven memben movable into cranking engagement with a member of an `engine' to be starte 5l;.means for driving said driven member, a booster magneto drivably connected to said driven member, and means movable: With said driven member for electrically connecting `and disconnecting `said magneto from the. engine.' y

6. In combination with an internal combus- Vtion` engine ofthe type having an ignition device drivably connected to the crankshaft thereof, a combined starting and ignition mechanism including a starter member movable to engage andi crank an engine member drivably associated'withthe crankshaft of the engine, a booster magneto, means for simultaneously driving said magneto and starter member, means for 4'moving said members into cranking engagement, and vmeans for velectrically. connecting said magnetoy to said engine in proper timed relation during-starting of the latter, said means including a Contact member movable with said starter member.v l y f y'7. In combination, an engine starter including a rotatable member movable axially intov cranking engagement'with a member of an engine to be started, a magneto drivably connected to said rotatable member,v and means movable in response to the axial movement of said rotatable 'member .for "electrically connecting the magneto tothe engine during cranking of the latter and for.v electrically disconnecting the magneto when the'engine starts.

' 8; In engine4 starting apparatus, a 'driven member, a shaft for driving said member, a magneto driva'bly connected to said shaft', vmeans for -movingY said driven member into cranking engagement with a member of an enginev to be started, means for electrically connecting said magneto to the engine during cranking of the latter said means including a'contact movable` with said driven member, the driven member and engine member being so constructed as to beengageable in one position only. l 9; In combination with engine starting mechneto kfrom the engine in accordance with the engaged and disengaged positions of saidA members.

10. In combination m'th engine starting;l mechanism including-a driven member adapted to be moved* into cranking engagement with a, me'mber of the engine to be started, a vbooster magneto drivably connected tosaid driven member, means for moving said driven member `into cranking engagement with said engine member, and meansr connected to said driven member for electrically connecting said magneto to the engine to be started. 11. In combination With engine starting mechanism including a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a magneto for supplyingignition current to the engine during cranking thereof, including Ya contact member movable with said driven member for automatically electrically connecting the magneto and engine during cranking, and means for automatically electrically disconnecting the magneto When the engine starts. l2. In combination with a member of an internal combustion engine to be started, said engine having charge igniting means, a driven member adapted for cranking engagement with the engine member, means for rotating said driven member, ignition current supply means,

and means operatively connected to said driven member for electrically connecting said supply means to the charge igniting means.

13. In starting apparatus of the class described,v a rotatable member normally disengaged but movable into cranking engagement with a member of an engine to be started, means for rotating said rotatable member, a magneto drivably connected therewith, fandmeans operable in response to movement of said rotatable member 4into cranking engagement With saidv engine member for electrically connecting Said magneto to the engine.

14. In starting apparatus of` the class described, a rotatable member adapted to'engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, means for rotating said member, means for supplying ignition current to the engine during starting, said last named means comprising a rotatable circuit closing member anda driving connection between said rotating meansr and said vcircuit closing member, and means for moving said rotatable member into cranking engagement with said engine member only when said engine member is in a predetermined angular position with respect to the angular position of said circuit closing member.

ROMEO M. VNARDONE.' 

